Palladium/zinc indium sulfide microspheres: Enhanced photocatalysts prepare methanol under visible light conditions

• Pd/ Zinc indium sulfide microspheres were successfully prepared.
• Pd/ Zinc indium sulfide microspheres have high photocatalytic activity for methanol preparation.
• Catalyst re-use revealed the present photocatalyst remain effective and active after five cycles.

Zinc indium sulfide microspheres were prepared via the hydrothermal method. Palladium/zinc indium sulfide nanocomposite was prepared using a photo-assisted deposition method. UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectra and BET surface area analysis were used to characterize the ZnIn2S4 and Pd/ZnIn2S4 nanocomposite samples. According to the results, the shape of ZnIn2S4 is microspherical and the palladium dopants appear as dots on the surface of ZnIn2S4. Additionally, the optical and electronic properties of the Pd/ZnIn2S4 nanocomposite samples were improved when compared with those of ZnIn2S4. The Pd/ZnIn2S4 nanocomposite samples have a higher photocatalytic activity than that of ZnIn2S4 for the preparation of methanol from the visible light photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide. The 1.5 wt % Pd/ZnIn2S4 nanocomposite sample exhibits the best photocatalytic activity and can be used five times for reduction of carbon dioxide without a loss in performance. Our efforts might expand the use of zinc indium sulfide as a photocatalyst working in visible light region.

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